The workshop titled “Ethics and Techniques of Handling Laboratory Animals” organised by the Animal Facility and Care Unit at Arabian Gulf University (AGU) in collaboration with the university’s Community Service, Consultation, Training, and Continuing Education Centre, has successfully concluded. The event aimed to enhance participants' awareness of ethical standards and regulations governing experimental research, while equipping trainees with essential skills and techniques for handling laboratory animals. The workshop featured presentations by a group of specialists from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Dr Yahya Naguib, Head of the Animal Facility and Care Unit and the Physiology Department, noted that unit was established to train students and researchers interested in conducting experimental animal research within the region. It empowers researchers to conduct basic medical research and offers training workshops throughout the academic year. Open to all interested individuals in Bahrain and the wider Gulf, the unit is recognised as a centre of regional excellence.

The two-day workshop comprised numerous lectures and intensive training sessions. Professor Dr Khaled Greish, Head of the Clinical Research Centre, presented a comprehensive module on the ethics and principles of humane treatment of laboratory animals, including techniques for preparing tumours and injecting them into animals to evaluate interactions with experimental cancer treatments.

Professor Ammar Marwani, Technical Supervisor at the University's Animal Facility, presented a training module focused on essential professional skills for handling laboratory animals and various injection techniques. Additionally, Dr Noureddine Ben Khalaf, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation at the College of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine, shared insights into the university’s experiences in genetically engineering laboratory animals to evaluate treatment efficacy for various challenging diseases.

The workshop concluded with a detailed presentation by Dr Yahya Naguib, who discussed behavioural testing methods in laboratory animals and their significance in neuroscience research.